Golf overshoe



March 3, 1936. R, L, CLARK ET AL 2,032,793

GOLF OVERSHOE Filed Feb. 19, 1.934

INVENTORS ATTO RN EY Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF OVERSHOE Ralph L. Clark and Matthew D. Focacci, Lodi, Calii.; said Focacci assignor to said Clark This invention relates to water-proof overshoes and particularly to overshoes designed for the use of golfers wearing spiked shoes as is almost universally the custom.

Golf courses are in the main turfed over, and the grass even in fine weather is very frequently quite wet either from dew or from sprinkling, so that the golfers walking over the fairways are bound to throw up a certain amount of water against their shoes. The rough with its longer unmowed growth is of course even wetter with .dewy conditions and has an even greater wetting action on the shoes.

It is practically impossible to keep golf shoes in such shape that they will be properly waterproof under the above conditions for any length of time, and since the ordinary rubbers cannot well be worn with spiked shoes, the pleasure of the game is frequently marred and the healthgiving features thereof negatived by the players acquiring wet feet with the accompanying discomfort and frequent detriment to health.

If a golfer endeavors to prevent wetting his feet by the use of the ordinary type of rubbers or overshoes he must wear ordinary street shoes when so doing and of course loses most of the traction or non-slipping qualities which cleats provide and which are so necessary for proper playing.

The principal object of our invention therefore is to provide overshoes for spiked shoes so arranged that while the uppers and consequently the feet of the wearer are effectively protected from the wetting action had from rubbing against or standing in wet grass, the unimpaired use of the spikes is retained as fully as if the overshoes were not worn.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

I In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of our improved overshoes as mounted on a shoe.

Figure 2 is a side elevationcf a shoe showing an overshoe mounted thereon and in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the overshoe as in place on the shoe.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bottom frame of the overshoe.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, each overshoe is built around What may be considered a base member which is in the form of a thin frame I. This frame is symmetrical to the sole 2 of the shoe and its outer periphery substantially follows the contour of the half sole of the shoe; having its back cross member Ia positioned to extend across the instep a short distance in front of the heel 3. The frame is preferably made of thin sheet metal of a non-rusting character and while quite flexible is non-resilient, so that when it once conforms to the longitudinal contour of the'sole it will remain in such conformed condition. The frame is relatively narrow so that it doesnot interfere with any of the spikes or cleats S which project from the sole 2 in the usual arrangement, while at the same time leaving certain ones of the spikes close enough to the frame sothat they act as stops to prevent any possible lateral shifting of the frame. While as stated the frame is flexible or bendable longitudinally, it is quite rigid transversely so that there is no tendency for the latter to stretch laterally or warp out of shape. It is also to be understood of course that the frames are made right and left handed, to conform to the shape of the corresponding shoes.

The body 4 of the overshoe is of flexible waterproof and stretchable rubber or similar material and preferably surrounds the major area of the upper portion 5 of the shoe from toe to heel, but particularly the forward portion of the shoe. The body material across the front and along the sides of the shoe and for the peripheral extent of the corresponding portion of the frame I, extends over the top of the frame from the outside, then under the same from the inside, and then upwardly a short distance to a vulcanized or cemented connection with itself as shown in Figure 5. The fact that the frame I is highly flexible and that the body 4 is of such size relative to the shoe that it will be stretched slightly when fitted on the shoe, together with the provision of a cushion covering for the frame I as above described, are of the greatest importance in the successful functioning of the overshoe to keep out Water, as will be explained later.

The area 4a of the body material which extends about the under surface of the frame I of course engages the ground and is the wearing surface of the overshoe. Such area may therefore be reinforced by cords, fabric or in any other suitable manner known to the industry. The portion of the body material however which extends over the top of the frame is preferably soft and yieldable so as to form a cushion to firmly engage and seal the sole.

It will be noted that thesole engaging portion 4a of the overshoe is in effect a flange, extending about and underlapping the sole; the frame I forming the necessary rigid core for said flange to maintain the same against distortion.

The overshoes are placed on the shoes in the same manner as is done with ordinary rubbers, and as previously stated, the size of the overshoes relative to the shoes on which they are disposed is such that they are then stretched slightly. The upper portion 4 of the body material is thus placed under tension somewhat, causing an upward pull on the bottom flange 4a as a whole from both sides or all about the sole, a feature which in itself causes the flange to be drawn upwardly against the sole.

Also, the bottom edge of the relatively wide shoe sole, biting into the inside corner of the rubberat the junction of the upper portion 4 with the flange 4a, places the layer of rubber ofthe latter above the embedded frame I under tension as well, tending to pull such rubber laterally or toward the peripheral edge of the sole. This pulling action tends to tip the flange upwardly along its free inner edge, thus helping to hold the flange in sealing engagement with the sole.

' The presence of the laterally non-yielding frame inthe flange serves two important functions. For one thing, it prevents the opposite sides of the flange from spreading or shifting laterally relative to each other. In the secondplace, this stiffening frame prevents the distortion of the relatively soft and weak flange such as would otherwise be inevitably had by reason of the swivel movement of the feet when the flange is in contact with the ground, as when executing. a golf shot.

At the. back of the frame I the body 4 extends under and across the shoe at the shank in the form of a bridge 6 in which the back member la of the frame I is embedded. Here again the upper surface of the bridge being of a soft flexible nature firmly engages and forms a seal with the instep as shown. in Figure 2. Rearwardly of the. bridge the body 4 extends about the counter of the shoe above the heel leaving the latter fully exposed as shown. While however I have here shown and, described the overshoe as having a counter engaging portion, this is not actually necessary and the overshoe can terminate at the bridge, since there is no tendency for any forward slipping of the overshoe to take place when properly fitted, and most if not all of the wet grass from which the water would otherwise be received on the shoe is taken on the front portion of the same. Since the shoe soles of themselves of course'do not leak if they are in ordinary serviceable condition, it will thus be seen that a positive watertight seal is provided all around the under surface of the sole, which prevents any water from getting above the sole from below or alongside the same and seeping between the sole and the upper or through any defects in the latter. At the same time the major portion of the sole, the entire-heel and all the spikes projecting therefrom are exposedfor proper engagement with the ground as is desired.

Since the overshoes do not have any appreciable amount of sole of their own, they are much lighter than the ordinary rubbers or overshoes. Also, on account of the fact that the frame I is readily bendable, the overshoes may be rolled or folded lengthwise if desired and without harm, making them more compact for storing in the pocket of a golf bag or elsewhere.

While these overshoes have been particularly designed to protect the shoes from getting wet when walking through dewy grass etc. which brushes against the front portion and sides of the shoes as the walker advances, these overshoes have proved to be equally effective to prevent water leaking through to the uppers even when the wearer is standing in actual puddles of water.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device. still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Overshoes each comprising a body of water proof material adapted to be' disposed over and cover the forward portion of the shoe and to extend downwardly about the edge of the sole,

' means provided with said body to form a watertight seal with the sole about and adjacent its periphery while leaving the major area of the sole exposed and a bridge extending across to snugly engage the sole at the shank and integral with the adjacent side portions of the body.

2. Overshoes each comprising a body of water-- proof material adapted to be disposed over and. cover the forward portion of the shoe and to extend downwardly about the edge of the sole and underlapping the sole only immediately adjacent its edge, and means incorporated in said underlapping portion of the body material and functioning when the overshoe is mounted on a shoe to hold said portion in watertight contact with the sole of the shoe.

3. Overshoes eachcomprising a body of waterproof material adapted to be disposed over and cover the forward portion of the shoe and to extend downwardly about the edge of the sole and underlapping the sole only immediately adjacent its edge, and means enclosed in said underlapping portion of the body material and functioning when the overshoe is disposed on a shoe to prevent downward displacement of said underlapping portion from position against the sole, as well as outward lateral movement of one side of said portion relative to the other.

4. Overshoes each comprising a relatively thin narrow transversely rigid frame symmetrical to a shoe sole and whose outer periphery is adapted to follow and lie adjacent the periphery of the sole, said frame including a back cross member extending across the shank of the shoe; a body of stretchable waterproof material to cover the forward portion of the shoe and extending downwardly over the sides of the sole thereof, a flexible flange formed with and extending about the lower edge of said body and in which the outer peripheral portion of the frame is embedded, and a bridge portion integral with said body and flange and in which said frame cross member is embedded.

5. Overshoes each comprising a body of waterproof material adapted to be disposed over and cover the forward portion of a shoe and to extend downwardly about and along the edge of the sole, a flange formed with said body along its lower edge to underlap the adjacent portion of the sole, and a transversely rigid frame embedded in said flange.

6. Overshoes each comprising a body of stretchable waterproof material adapted to be disposed over and cover the forward portion of a shoe and to extend downwardly about and along the edge of the shoe sole, a relatively thick flange of cushion rubber extending with a watertight connection along the lower edge of the body to underlap the adjacent portion of the sole, and a relatively thin and transversely rigid frame embedded in the flange.

'7. Overshoes each comprising a body of waterproof material adapted to be disposed over and cover the forward portion of a shoe and to extend downwardly about and along the edge of the sole, a flange formed with said body along its lower edge to underlap and engage the adjacent portion of the sole, so as to leave the major portion of the sole exposed, and means incorporated with the flange to stiflen the same against lateral movement and deflection relative to the sole.

RALPH L. CLARK. MATTHEW D. FOCACCI. 

